The aim of Task 30 (2016 – 2020) is to analyse and assess environmental effects of EVs on water, land use, resources and air based on LCA and in cooperation with participating countries in the HEV TCP. Task 30 is using the results of the completed Task 19 “Life Cycle Assessment of Electric Vehicles” (2011 – 2015, led by Joanneum Reseach) as a foundation to subsequently examine the environmental effects – benefits and impacts – of EVs, based on LCA. Observing the three phases of LCA, namely production, operation and dismantling of EVs, various environmental effects of EVs on water, land use, resources, and air, among others, are analysed and assessed. Thereby a strong emphasis is put on the comparison of environmental effects between pure battery EVs (BEVs) and Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles using gasoline and diesel.
In recent years, the focus in environmental assessments of EVs was on global warming and primary energy consumption. But now it is recognised that other impacts gain additional relevance and must be addressed by life cycle based comparisons like water, land use, resource consumption, local PM and NOx emissions. Therefore, Task 30 focuses also on the following topics covering methodologies, data and case studies:
Within the Task, methodologies are being developed to assist countries in implementing EVs, by identifying opportunities to maximise the environmental benefits. In addition, various case studies are to be analysed, and shared with networking and information exchange. The Task proceeds by organising a series of expert workshops addressing the following objectives:
Dr. Gerfried Jungmeier
LIFE – Institute for Climate, Energy and Society
Austria / Canada / Germany / Republic of Korea / Spain / Türkiye / United States of America